Being in a car accident is likely going to be the most traumatic event you will experience in your lifetime. The act of suddenly being severely jarred or injured through a car accident is not something that people will go through, even though there are an estimated two million crashes on U.S. roads each year.
However, for those who are injured, there likely is more than just the physical ailments that an accident victim will have to deal with. The emotional injuries that people deal with after a crash can be ignored. It is not uncommon for people to be irritable after an accident, feel unsure of themselves or be reluctant to get back behind the wheel or have trouble concentrating.
All of these feelings could be considered symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). When most people think of PTSD, they envision soldiers that have trouble readjusting to civilian life after being in a warzone. Nevertheless, everyday people can suffer PTSD after being in a car accident.
Also, the emotional and physiological damages are important considerations when evaluating an accident victim for damage awards. This where an experienced personal injury attorney can really help. A skilled litigator can explain how PTSD has (or will) limit a victim’s ability to enjoy their life after an accident, especially if the victim has significant physical injuries to deal with as well.
So if you have been in an accident and feel as if you are no longer yourself; either because you can no longer concentrate or believe that you are suffering from depression, these could be symptoms of PTSD.